Dufour 50 Classic, a Used Buyer's Guide to Dufour's 1990s Flagship

The top of Dufour's Classic range

Dufour is one of France's oldest production builders, founded in La Rochelle in 1964 by engineer and naval architect Michel Dufour and owned since 2018 by Fountaine Pajot. In the 1990s and early 2000s its cruising line was the Classic series, which ran from the Classic 30 through the 32, 35, 36, 38, 41, 43 and 45 up to the 50. The Dufour 50 Classic was the flagship, the boat for owners who wanted a true 50 footer with long-range tankage and space for a crowd.

Dufour's own 2000 specification sheet describes a boat of 15.22 m (49 ft 11 in) overall on a 14.99 m hull, with a 4.60 m (15 ft 1 in) beam, 124 m2 (1,333 sq ft) of sail, 13,665 kg (30,063 lb) displacement, 4,400 kg (9,680 lb) of ballast, 650 liters of water, 500 liters of diesel, 8 to 10 berths and an engine in the 60 to 80 hp range. Sailboatdata credits the design to Olivier Poncin and the Berret studio, now Berret-Racoupeau, and notes that a closely related boat was sold into charter as the Stardust 495.

Production dates are not well documented. Sailboatdata gives 1996 as the first year, a 1995-built boat has been advertised in France, and the 50 was still in Dufour's catalog in 2003. By 2008, SAIL noted that the 425 and 525 Grand Large completed a range that had been completely redesigned since 2000, so the Classic name and the 50 had passed into history.

Hull, rig and what the ratios promise

On a 41 ft 7 in waterline and roughly 30,000 to 31,000 pounds, the Dufour 50 Classic is a moderate-displacement cruiser rather than a heavy passagemaker. With 1,333 square feet of sail on a masthead rig, its sail area to displacement ratio is around 21.8, a lively figure for a cruiser of its era. Ballast is about 30 percent of displacement, and hull speed is roughly 8.6 knots.

Those numbers describe a boat that should sail well in moderate breezes and need reefing earlier than a deep, heavily ballasted bluewater boat. The masthead sloop rig means a big overlapping genoa does much of the work, which suits roller furling and makes sail changes simple, though a 50 footer's genoa is a big sail to trim by hand. Most surviving boats will have electric or upgraded primary winches; if not, budget for them.

Deep fin or shoal keel

Sailboatdata lists a maximum draft of 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in), and Dufour's spec sheet quotes a minimum draft of 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in), indicating a shoal version. For the US East Coast, the Bahamas and the Gulf, the shoal keel is far more practical, while the deep fin will point higher and track better offshore. Because most boats are in Europe, where the deep keel was common, a shoal-draft example may take longer to find.

Room for ten: living aboard a 1990s French 50

A quoted capacity of 8 to 10 berths tells you how Dufour expected the 50 Classic to be used: families, large crews and charter. Layouts varied by order and by the boat's original market, so treat every listing on its own merits and walk through the actual boat. Owners' versions tend to have fewer, larger cabins and more stowage; charter-derived boats have more cabins and heads and more wear.

Expect the interior style of its era: warm wood joinery, a large saloon with settees and a dining table, a substantial galley and a proper chart table. What matters more than the original plan is how the interior has aged. Check for water damage at the base of bulkheads, delaminated veneers near hatches and ports, and the condition of headliners, which on many boats of this age sag and need replacing.

Volvo power and long-range tankage

Dufour quoted engines from 60 to 80 hp, and sailboatdata lists Volvo Penta as the original make. With 500 liters (132 gallons) of fuel and 650 liters (172 gallons) of water, the 50 Classic carries more than most modern 45 to 50 footers, and that tankage is one of its strongest selling points for liveaboards and long-distance cruisers.

At this age, the engine is the first thing to price. Many boats will have been repowered at least once; if the original Volvo is still installed, plan for replacement or a thorough overhaul and look carefully at the exhaust elbow, heat exchanger, shaft seal and engine mounts. Tank inspection is just as important, because aluminum or steel fuel tanks of this vintage can corrode and are often hard to remove.

Survey priorities on a boat that is 25 years old

Any Dufour 50 Classic on the market is now more than two decades old, and the survey should be planned accordingly. The items that sink the budget are rarely cosmetic: standing rigging and chainplates past their service life, rudder bearings, keel bolts on a boat that has touched bottom, original deck hardware bedding, and electrical systems that have been modified by several owners. A rig survey by a specialist is money well spent.

If the boat has a teak deck, assess it carefully; a replacement on a 50 footer is a major expense. Ports and hatches on boats of this age frequently need rebedding or replacement. Ask for a moisture survey of the deck, particularly around stanchions, winches and the mast partners.

Buying one in Europe and bringing it to the US

Because the model was built for European owners and charter fleets, the realistic path for a US buyer is usually a purchase in France, Spain, Italy or Greece. Factor in a transatlantic delivery or shipping, survey travel, import formalities and conversion of shore power and some electrical systems to US standards. Done well, the result is a 50 foot cruiser with big tanks for the price of a much smaller new boat.

Annual costs in the US run roughly $18,000 to $40,000, driven by a 50 ft slip, insurance, haul-out and bottom paint, engine and generator service if fitted, and a reserve for sails and rigging, which are expensive on a boat of this size.